Glen Kotzen, 53 today, should be able to celebrate in style at Durbanville where he has a favourite and two second favourites among his nine runners.

The man who won South African racing’s greatest prize with Big City Life nine years ago is renowned for his cheerful optimism – a valuable commodity in a racehorse trainer as it inspires and attracts owners – and he has been in Grade 1-winning mood with his Sun Met hope Eyes Wide Open in each of the last two seasons.

Glen Kotzen

Today’s runners are highly unlikely to reach anywhere near that level but there is a lot to like about Sacred Night in the Tabonline.co.za Maiden. Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount has a plum draw and last time’s third to Carlas Mambo suggests (on a line through Vascostreetractor) that he should beat Gallagher. The selection opened favourite at 28-10 and probably has most to fear from the Ramsden runner Cash Call (33-10) who might well have finished closer than fourth on his most recent outing – Donovan Dillon reported that he felt something was amiss with the gelding.

Kotzen has also booked Fayd’Herbe for 11-2 shot Blush Scarlet in the first but stable companion Trap Queen has a better chance on the book and according to World Sports Betting which is quoting the filly joint second favourite at 9-2.

However the vote goes to the Justin Snaith-Richard Fourie combination of Spirit Festival who is favourite at 3-1 on the strength of last time’s second over a furlong less here. Hero’s Daughter (9-2) made a promising debut when unfancied four weeks ago and will have come on for that but her 13 draw is major disadvantage. Aziri Sun, also trained by Brett Crawford, should not be far away.

Despite having to give lumps of weight all round – including a whopping 5.5kg to the one-time Algoa Cup hope Ollivander – Kampala Campari looks good for the TAB Telebet Handicap (race two). He was beaten less than three lengths when sixth in the Matchem. That was his first race for three months and he races off the same mark.

Candice Bass-Robinson is responsible for three of the other four runners. Aldo Domeyer is on Ollivander but Ontenderhooks and Pacific Chestnut also have high class pilots in Fourie and Ryan Munger. Kampala Campari, though, remains a confident selection.

Victory for Troop The Colour in the Play Soccer 6 Handicap would be a fitting tribute to Ronnie Sheehan. Last time’s effort was a little disappointing but Domeyer’s mount looks worth an interest.

By Michael Clower

The Vaal is back in racing condition and the Inside track stages a meeting of eight maidens for Workrider’s tomorrow.

The first race over 1000m can be won by Cosmic Mist if she jumps on terms. The first-timer Sail De Lago, a Sail From Seattle filly who is from the family of the great thirteen-time Grade 1 winner Serena’s Song, and the improving See You Tyger can pick up the pieces if she doesn’t.

Sean Tarry

In the second over 1000m two horses returning from layoffs could fight it out, the consistent Tommy The Builder and Sugoi, who is by the disappointing sire Noordhoek Flyer but he is strongly built and shows speed and was not far behind some of the best of his age group back in February. The speedily bred Glass Castle can also be included.

In the third race Pink looks the best bet on the card as she should relish the step up in trip, although Welsh Pagan by Bold Silvano is a half-sister to the dam of Edict Of Nantes and is an interesting contender.

The fourth race over 1400m could be won by the improved Dynajet from pole position, although Away Game by Var out of Summer Cup winner Flirtation has to be considered and Pelican Bay is also capable.

The fifth race over 1600m is a weak affair and Gaelebale is tipped if the removal of blinkers can see him jumping better and returning to his best. Duology is an interesting first-timer by Twice Over and To The Regiment can improve with a drop in trip and a tongue tie on.

In the sixth race over 1600m Durban Bourbon returns from a six month layoff but if performing close to her last run she is the one to beat. Generoso has her 32^nd start and can go close if it pans out for her and Candela is capable of a flying finish.

In the seventh over 1800m pole position-drawn Irish Wonder Girl makes plenty of appeal despite carrying 1kg overweight and could be a banker. The risk averse can include Eternal Summer and Stormbourne Thunder.

The last race over 1800m sees the return of the frustrating Agent Kay, but he has been gelded which could make a difference. He could fight it out with Flattley. The Litigator by Master Of My Fate out of a Dynasty mare also has to be considered.

By David Thiselton

Image: Sean Tarry is the trainer of Flattley, who runs in the last race at the Vaal tomorrow.

Pace, or the lack of it, is most often the deciding denominator when it comes to races over ground and Warfarer and Mark Khan took full toll of a sedate early pace in the Michaelmas Handicap (Listed) at Greyville yesterday, the Lezeanne Forbes-trained gelding getting home a length clear of the opposition with two short-heads separating the next three home.

With front-running Run Rhino Run a scratching, there was always doubt about the pace and so it proved as Celtic Captain was a reluctant leader from New Fort. The cheek pieces did not appear to have any noticeable effect on favourite American Landing who was one-paced throughout and tracked by Roy Had Enough.

By the time Anton Marcus realised that he was following the wrong horse, it was too late as Khan had skipped clear on Warfarer who was the one runner that was over his ideal trip.

Sabina’s Dynasty finished her race off strongly but just failed to catch Roy Had Enough while the three-year-old Marchingontogether, was a creditable fourth given that he was way out at the weights.

Warfarer (Candiese Marnewick)

Can You Feel It, bred and owned by Michael Leaf, was the biggest certainty to look through a bridal and she didn’t let her supporters down. Gareth van Zyl’s filly was probably the highest rated maiden in the country before yesterday and Warren Kennedy took no prisoners. He bounced his mount to the front from the break and once in the straight let her run along in his hands. Can You Feel It was easily 10 lengths clear before being geared down to win by five at the prohibitive odds of 1-8.

Wendy Whitehead scored a back-to-back double with Hard To Play showing a tremendous turn of foot to land the Pinnacles Stakes and Rocking Ruby finishing too strongly for the opposition in the next.

The luckless Dawn Calling picked up the lead some 300m out with the balance of the field off the bit, all except Hard To Play. Once Stuart Randolph released the brake, Hard To Play sailed past the filly as if he had jumped in at the furlong pole.

Randolph and Whitehead teamed up again in the next with Rocking Ruby getting the better of Victory Trip with Shwanky driving home from last in the straight to snatch third.

Backing first timers against seasoned opposition is always risky. Experience counts for much, be it man or beast, and the cash went out the window in the card opener as the heavily backed first timer Coldhardcash raced all at sea.

In a race laced with speed it was always going to be difficult and with a strong tailwind to help them home the filly Miss J and the visiting Pearl Of Siberia kept at it up the straight with Miss J getting her nose in front where is mattered.

Coldhardcash will live to fight another day and judged on this effort, a mile may be more should be within his compass.

The sixth race field was reduced to just five runners after a false start. Good Emperor reared up just as the gates were released and the starter called a false start. However, Noble Duke, That’s Life and Seventh Sun galloped the course in spite of their rider’s efforts to restrain them and Good Emperor was found to have injured himself in the gate and was also taken out.

After the re-start, Warren Kennedy set Royalsecuritypower alight from the jump and kept Kom Naidoo’s gelding running all the way to the line in spite of the best efforts from his rivals. The remarkable eight-year-old took his winning tally to nine from 68 starts.

Paul Gadsby opened and closed the meeting with Arrow’s Mark getting home under a smart ride from apprentice Luke Ferraris who scored his 28^th winner of this season, surpassing the 26 he notched last season.

By Andrew Harrison

Joey Ramsden could be the answer to punters’ prayers at Durbanville tomorrow and certainly his Still I Rise looks the one they all have to beat in the Betting World Handicap.

This Australian-bred filly lost a fatal amount of ground at the start over 1 000m here early in the month and made up all bar a short head. That performance suggests she will be suited by this extra furlong, she races off the same mark and has a plum draw. At yesterday’s 33-10 she really appeals.

Joey Ramsden

She had the Brett Crawford-trained Honey Suite (3-1) over two lengths behind and renews rivalry on the same terms. Township Melody is favourite at 22-10 and is having her first run since Durban in early August. There is no denying the claims of this Snaith-Fourie representative but it is Still I Rise who has the plus factors.

Ramsden can also win the first with Consul Of War even though this gelding is an apparent no-no as he is having his second run after a rest since injury (he hurt himself behind and was off for over ten months). He is also a four-year-old taking on three-year-olds and most of those get beaten.

But his third to the smart Frank Lloyd Wright here in early August suggests he may still be as good as he was early last season and he is well drawn – still a vital factor on this course despite last year’s well-documented improvements.

Senatla disputes favouritism at 33-10 with Bernard Fayd’Herbe’s mount and made a reasonable debut at the end of August but he needs to find a fair bit – he was beaten six lengths. Retro Effect (9-2) showed plenty of promise first time but his second run (here) was nothing like as good (his rider reported that he took no interest) and he is drawn in the bush. Carlton Heights (11-2) ran well from a nine draw last time but he starts even wider while Snaith’s Swift Surprise (8-1) would have to live up to his name to score from gate 14.

Keagan de Melo can make his journey pay off by winning race two on Cantata. Glen Kotzen’s filly has two good runs to her name and the most recent was from a bad draw. The 7-2 shot looks like proving too good for the ten-drawn 19-10 favourite Madonna and 9-2 chance Captain’s Choice whose 16 gate is surely the kiss of death.

It might be tempting providence to suggest that Ramsden will have a third winner but Sparkeling Fire (4-1) is top-rated in the Interbet.co.za Maiden and her form is consistently good.

By Michael Clower

The WSB Grand Series leg 1 and leg 2, both to be run over 1475m on the Turffontein Inside track tomorrow, should finally happen as the forecast is sunny for today and minimal rain tomorrow.

A potential match race between the two winners will take place in December.

The original Grand Heritage favourite Mardi Gras has a harder task than he would have had in a 28 horse field down the straight as he has drawn wide and looks to have ended up in the stronger of the two heats. Furthermore, his chief rivals have generally drawn well. However, he has class, a good turn of foot and as a four-year-old son of Oratorio who is improving and is having his third run after gelding he looks to be ahead of the handicapper off a 90 merit rating. He is thus tipped to win but Gavin Lerena will have his work cut out from draw eleven.

Tsitsikamma Dance (JC Photographics)

Tsitsikamma Dance had some useful Cape Town form and won his Highveld debut nicely over 1400m. He is likely to have come on from that run and now has blinkers on from a nice draw of four. Zouaves is another classy runner in the field and he has landed a plum draw of three over an ideal trip. Daffiq caught the eye running on well last time over 1450m and is well drawn in six and over an ideal trip. This is his third run after a layoff and as he was at one stage well regarded by former trainer Mike de Kock he has a shout off a mere 82 merit rating. Full Of Attitude won well over 1450m last time and is drawn in pole but he does have a five point merit rating raise to overcome. Danza is distance suited and Mujallad can’t be ignored despite a wide draw. They are selected in the order mentioned.

In the first leg Rings And Things is selected as the best bet on the card in her third run after a layoff. This classy Querrari filly finished just two lengths behind the subsequent Grade 1 Rising Sun Gold Challenge winner Undercover Agent in the CTS Mile and yet is merit rated just 85. This is an ideal trip and she has a good draw of five. Soldier On looks to be a progressive sort and has a plum draw of two, although he would prefer a mile.

Divine Odyssey is a progressive sort who is well drawn over a suitable trip and he has the advantage of Gavin Lerena aboard. Purple Diamond has a tongue tie and blinkers on and has the ability to go close from a good draw over a suitable trip. Chepardo ran a good preparation race over 1450m here from a tricky draw and he should have come on from the run so can earn despite another unfavourable draw. Hakeem is distance suited and has dropped to a competitive mark but has a tough draw.

In the WSB Grand Heritage Series Consolation race Big Mistake could be the one to beat. He ran second last time to the classy filly Mighty High and now has his third run after a layoff. It is also his third run on the Highveld and his third run as a gelding so he should be cherry ripe to deliver over a step up in trip to 1475m which he should relish as he was making good late progress in his only career attempt at 1400m. The dangers could be the progressive filly Gimme Hope Joanna, who only has 50kg to carry, and the promising Flying Winger, who is coming off a pleasing comeback effort from a nine month layoff. Catkin is drawn in pole and despite being seven-years-old remains consistent and this is an ideal trip. Regal Graduation has some class and is also distance suited but has a tough draw. Whosethebossnow hasn’t run for ten months but has ability and a good draw over a trip which he should enjoy running fresh. Three others to consider are Jubilee Line, despite him carrying 1,5kg overweight, Strawberry Pavlova and Penny Royal.

The features form the first three legs of a Pick 6 which should have a sizeable pool and both Rings And Things and Mardi Gras are tipped to be bankers.

By David Thiselton